New Zealand v Tonga

[Thingimubob]

Fine then, in few years we will have a NZ team with 15 players who were born abroad.

Ah but what about the French then, Ouedraogo was born in Burkina Faso, should we stamp our feet and stop him playing for France? Its a bit of a misconception that NZ 'poach' players, used to believe it myself, but people have pointed out pretty much all of the players who were born abroad and played for the AB's have lived in New Zealand for most of their lives. If a players gets most of his Rugby training through one country then I have no problem at all in them playing for that country. And anyway I can;t complain about it anyway, because it's the same situation as Toby Faletau - moved to Wales when he was about 4, never touched a rugby ball before he came here and then came up through the Dragons Academy.

 

[Aout]

What if Wales played with 15 Chinese-born players who emigrated to Wales when they were 2 ? Would it be Wales ?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Ladies ... this is off-topic now and the debate is a tiresome one that has been covered on the board.

The official thread is found here: http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?24403-RWC-New-Zealand-Tonga-(09-09-2011-20-30)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

@Olly
I don't know these guys tbh, but I guess they were born abroad. If they were born abroad from English parents, then I don't see any reason why they would'nt be able to play for England.

And about the English team, even the English themselves are ******. All the guys in my team (Coventry), players, coaches etc... really feel that the English team that left for the RWC isn't really "English". I can't blame them for this.

So in the England squad:

Simon Shawe - born abroad, English family
Matt Stevens - born abroad, English family
Dylan Hartley - born abroad, moved here as a kid, believe he has English family as well (Grandparent(s))
Manu Tuilagi - born abroad, moved here as a kid, played England at age grade and school level for England, turned down Samoa to play for England as he feels like an English rugby player as it's where he learnt his rugby
Shontayne Hape - Dreadful.
Alex Corbisiero - born abroad, moved to England as a toddler, believe he has English family too (again, Grandparents I think)
Joe Simpson - born abroad, moved to England as a kid, English parent
Delon Armitage - born abroad, English parent


So really there's only two players who get in through non-heritage routes, and one of those (Tuilagi) considers himself English, having turned down the chance to play for Samoa to play for England
So really it's only Hape that's a mercenary, and no one is happy with him being there anyway